DeSoto center to aid abused children nearing reality

Every month in DeSoto County, there are some 100 reports of child abuse and neglect made to the county Department of Children's Services. Just three years ago, the number was about 75 a month.

One in four girls and one in six boys will be a victim of sexual abuse before age 18.

"People's jaws drop when they hear those numbers," says Southaven-based social worker Ashley Schachterle. "After all, this is the place everyone wants to move to. But we're not exempt because we're DeSoto County. As we've grown, this problem has grown, and we as a community have to address it."

She and other advocates are leading the charge for a center here which could provide services within months.

"From my perspective, a child advocacy center is a need, not a want," said state Assistant Dist. Atty. Steve Jubara of the 17th District that includes DeSoto County. "We have sex-crime perpetrators here who are getting away with it because we don't have a child advocacy center."

Nationally, statistics show abuse is the second leading cause of death, behind Infant Sudden Death Syndrome, for children from birth to 5 years. Nearly five children die every day from abuse and neglect. In 2009, 1,770 children died from abuse across the U.S., with 14 of those deaths in Mississippi.

In that same year, child advocacy centers across the country served 254,000 children with therapy and victim assistance, and by 2011 the number had grown to more than 270,000. In Mississippi last year, such centers — called CACs in the social service and law-enforcement communities — saw about 187,000 children.

But no such help was forthcoming in DeSoto County because no such center exists here. Already-traumatized child victims caregivers, prosecutors and others are required to travel to centers in Oxford or Tupelo or elsewhere for forensic interviews and other procedures. Nineteen months ago, the Memphis Child Advocacy Center decided that if funds could be raised and DeSoto County agreed, MACC specialists could provide such services. However, largely owing to budget constraints, no action followed.

Until now.

Over the past several months, all the pieces have been put in place for a child advocacy center in DeSoto County called Healing Hearts to coordinate care, therapy and investigations for young victims of abuse. All except funding, that is, but fired-up licensed clinical social worker Schachterle and supporters intend to close the gap.

"The community needs to get behind this, to obtain this resource that we need so badly," she said.

"Everything is done — we were certified as a 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt nonprofit on Aug. 29; we have a seven-member board, a functioning multidisciplinary team that's been meeting since June; and office space waiting. If I had the money, I could open a CAC tomorrow."

On deck is United Way of the Mid-South, which is seeking to get Healing Hearts on the nonprofit coordinator's regular allocation list, said Fred Ashwill of United Way's DeSoto office.

"This will get them funding each year from our campaign," he said.

Also, Regina Walker, United Way senior vice president for community engagement and alignment, is working to clear the way for a $10,000 multi-disciplinary-team training grant through Merck and United Way board member James Pleiman, an area Merck vice president.Shachterle owns and operates Journey to New Beginnings mental health services at 5627 Getwell Roadin Southaven. The planned center would be housed in her landlord's vacant space next door.

Schachterle has applied for a grant for forensic equipment and other needs through the National Children's Advocacy Center in Huntsville, Ala., which compiles the abuse statistics she employs. Also ahead are fundraisers. slated for November and December and visits to local government, including the county Board of Supervisors and the cities' aldermen, to give them a progress report, address concerns and ask for support and allocations.

"I'd welcome a center here," said Supervisor Bill Russell of Walls, who added he wants to hear more details on Healing Hearts. "This is a very sensitive area."

He said DeSoto had enjoyed years of service provided by the Memphis CAC, much of it free of charge.

"They were good to us, and we were able to give them some funds for a couple years, but we parted by mutual agreement. Their load was growing and we could see we were becoming a burden to them, and we also wanted to try and keep our expenditures within Mississippi."

Law enforcers, including Sheriff Bill Rasco and state Dist. Atty. John Champion and staff, also endorse a CAC.

"It would be a great asset," Rasco said. "We have more of a need for this than we ever imagined."

For more information on the planned child advocacy center or to make a donation, go online at healingheartscac.com, e-mail healingheartscac@yahoo.com or mail directly to the Healing Hearts CAC address: 5627 Getwell Road C-2, Southaven, MS 38672. Information also can be obtained by calling 662-470-4789.